e-commerce
Amazon cuts 16,000 jobs worldwide
WASHINGTON: Amazon has slashed 16,000 jobs worldwide in a fresh wave of layoffs, deepening one of the most aggressive restructurings in its history as the company unwinds pandemic-era over-hiring and leans harder into artificial intelligence.
The cuts, reported by Reuters, come just three months after an earlier round of job losses and form part of a broader plan to eliminate around 30,000 corporate roles. Employees across Amazon Web Services, retail, Prime Video and human resources are expected to be affected.
The latest move underscores chief executive Andy Jassy’s push to flatten Amazon’s sprawling corporate structure. When the first phase of layoffs was announced in October, Jassy said the decision was not driven by short-term financial pressure or artificial intelligence, but by culture. Years of rapid expansion, he said, had created too many layers of management, slowing decision-making and adding complexity.
Analysts say the savings from the cuts are likely to be redirected towards Amazon’s priorities, particularly generative AI and automation within AWS.
Amazon’s retrenchment is part of an efficiency programme launched during the pandemic, when hiring surged to meet soaring demand. Since 2022, the company has cut more than 27,000 roles, with recent rounds hitting its cloud, retail, devices and communications businesses.
Jassy has been explicit about where the company is headed. He has said Amazon intends to streamline its hierarchy to “remove complexity and flatten organisations”, and warned employees that further changes are likely as AI reshapes the workforce.
Speaking to staff in June 2025, he said Amazon “will need fewer people doing some of the jobs that are being done today, and more people doing other types of jobs” as generative AI is embedded across operations.
Earlier Reuters reporting suggested that job losses this year could affect up to 30,000 positions across human resources, devices and services, operations and other departments. Smaller cuts have already taken place in 2026, including limited layoffs in communications and sustainability teams in January.
Amazon has said affected employees will be given 90 days to apply for internal transfers, with recruiters instructed to prioritise internal candidates. Those who fail to secure new roles will receive severance pay, outplacement support and continued healthcare benefits.
For Amazon’s workforce, the message is stark: the era of relentless hiring is over. Efficiency, automation and AI now set the tempo—and fewer seats will be left when the music stops.
e-commerce
Flipkart rolls out 105 per cent bonus for 20,000 employees
Strong FY25 performance drives payouts even as layoffs and shifts unfold.
MUMBAI: In a year where belts were tightened and rewards loosened, Flipkart seems to be playing both offence and defence trimming roles on one hand while handing out a generous 105 per cent bonus on the other. The Walmart owned e commerce major has rolled out a 105 per cent bonus payout for 2025, covering nearly 20,000 employees, signalling a year of steady operational momentum even as the company navigates restructuring pressures. The payout, communicated internally by chief human resources officer Seema Nair, is tied to performance across key metrics including growth, operational efficiency, financial outcomes and people indicators, a combination that suggests the company is inching closer to its long stated goal of sustainable profitability.
Employees at SD level and below are set to receive their bonuses in March, while payouts for senior leadership, including vice presidents and senior vice presidents, will follow after the close of the performance cycle. The elevated 105 per cent multiplier stands out in a sector where cautious payouts have increasingly become the norm, pointing to what appears to be a relatively strong internal scorecard for FY25.
Yet, the announcement arrives with a noticeable contrast. Earlier this year, Flipkart reduced its workforce by around 300 roles as part of its annual performance review process. While officially framed as performance driven, the juxtaposition of layoffs alongside above target bonuses reflects a more nuanced balancing act, one that prioritises cost discipline while continuing to reward and retain high performing talent.
This dual approach is becoming increasingly common across the technology and e commerce landscape, where companies are navigating an uneven hiring environment while under pressure to deliver profitability. Rewarding top contributors, even amid selective workforce reductions, allows firms to maintain morale and retain critical talent without losing sight of financial prudence.
At the same time, Flipkart is also undergoing leadership shifts that hint at a broader strategic recalibration. Nishant Verman has been appointed senior vice president for corporate development and partnerships, while group chief financial officer Sriram Venkataraman is set to step down. Ravi Iyer will take on expanded responsibilities within the finance function, marking a reshuffle at the top as the company gears up for its next phase.
These changes come amid reports that Flipkart is planning to shift its holding structure back to India, a move widely interpreted as groundwork for a potential public listing. While timelines remain fluid, the combination of stronger financial discipline, leadership restructuring and employee incentivisation suggests a company preparing itself for greater scrutiny and scale.
For employees, the 105 per cent payout offers a welcome boost in what has otherwise been a period of adjustment. For Flipkart, it is a signal that even as it cuts where necessary, it is willing to spend where it counts. In the high stakes game of growth versus profitability, the company appears to be hedging its bets carefully, rewarding performance while reshaping itself for what could be its most defining chapter yet.
